Fruit orientators



June 24, 1958 1-:.w. CARROLL 2,840,221

FRUIT ORIENTATORS Filed Mafch 27; 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.Jill/702714 M (4220!;

///s fidrglvr lrramvey June 24, 1958 E. W. CARROLL FRUIT ORIENTATORSFiled March 27. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. 6Z1 IWOE III M 642201A #15 flora/r 427012.416

United States PatentO FRUIT ORIENTATORS Ellsworth W. Carroll, RedwoodCity, Calif.', assignor to S & W Fine Foods, Inc., San Francisco,Calif., a corporation of California Application March 27, 1950, SerialNo. 152,069

.10 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) The present invention relates to fruitorientators, and more particularly to a device whereby a fruit having astem indent elongated in the plane of the seam or suture of the fi'uitmay be orientated both as to stem indent and as to suture, preliminaryto halving of the fruit, as by saw, for example.

The present invention is a modification of the device shown, described,and claimed in my prior application, Serial No. 98,260, filed June 10,1949, for Fruit Orientation Devices, and is particularly useful inorientating peaches;

In the above identified application I disclosed and claimed apparatusadapted to orientate fruit such as peaches as toindent and seam in twostages. The first stage orientated the fruit as to indent and sometimesas to seam byrotating the fruit by the use of awheel supporting a majorportion of the weight of the fruit, the wheel being changed in isvertical plane of rotation during fruit rotation. As the deepestpenetration of the Wheel into the'indent takes place when the wheelrotational plane registers with the indent and seam plane, some indentorientation took place on the rotating wheel. The fruit then passed intothe second stage wheresubstantially the entire weight of the fruit wassupported on an indent shaped member while this member was beingoscillated to various vertical planes so that the deepest penetration ofthe indent shaped member couldv take place. Thereafter, by withdrawingthe indent shaped member in a predetermined position, all'fruit.properlyindent, so means are provided to stop the rotation of the wheeland then to move the wheel in various vertical planes to cause the fruitto settle on the wheel to the" deepest extent, thereby causing the seamplane to coincide with the wheel plane.

motions.

The present invention may be more fully understood by reference to theappended drawings, in which:

Figure,1 isa partial side elevation view of a carrier typemachineembodying one preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of awheel oscillating cam track. utilized in themachine of Figure 1, taken as indicated by 7 line 2,-2 in Figure 3. v

Figure 3 is a vertical view, partly in elevation and partly in section,of a fruit restraining means taken as indicated'by line 3-3 in Figure 1.

'Figure 4 is a vertical end view mostly in elevation Figure dis a viewsimilar to that of Figure 4, showing;

a modified orientating wheel.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the beginning of the cam track shownin Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a cam track used with the H modified wheelof Figure 8.

Referring first to Figure 1 for a general description of the machine, aframe 1;; supports two spaced pairs of gears,

a front pair 2 and a rear pair 2a, these gears rotating in verticalplanes to carry therebetween a pair of endless carrier chains 3. Betweeneach front and rear gear, the chainsv 3 are supported on the tophorizontal edges 4 of two frame plates 5, best shown in section inFigure'3 orientated by the wheel andthe indent shaped member would beleft in a predetermined position in the machine, both as to indent andseam, so that further operation, such as inspection and halving could beperformed on the fruit. t

It is anobject of the present invention to perform both.

indent and seam orientation in a single stage,'and by the use of thesame indent fitting member, i. e., the orientating wheel.

It isanother object of th'e invention to provide a relatively' simplemeans for ,orientating seamed'fruit having an elongated stem indent bothcation.

It'is' another object of the present; invention to provide a simplemechanism for changing the attitude of an 'in dented-fruit while beingrotated for indent orientation by an orientation member, such as awheel.

Briefly, the present invention includes the use of fruit restrainingmeans holding an indented seamed fruit such as a peach in a positionwhere a major portion of its weight rests on an orientation member, suchasa wheel, rotating'in a vertical plane. While so resting, the wheel ispower driven'at all timesto rotate the fruit to scan the fruit for theindent and theplane of wheel rotation is as to indent and, seam lospringretainers 16 over which is positioned a compression spring 17 tending toopen or force apart the cup give registry-of the wheel withthe longestextent of the Frame plates 5 are supported from frame 1 at each endthereof.

At regular ..intervals, the chains 3 are connected by cross bars 6, asshown in Figure 3, and each cross bar 6carriesa central horizontal pin-'7. Each pin 7 has a pair of opposed arms 9 mounted thereon. The outerends of cross bars 6 ride on brackets 16 attached to frame plates 5.

The endsof the upwardly extending portions 11 and 12 of the opposed arms9 support opposed, curved cup halves'l extending upwardly to define afruit restraining, recess 1'5 shown in Figure 3 as holding a peach P.

The lower portions of opposed arms 9 below pin 7 extend downwardly andoutwardly to end in opposed h-alves- 1.4.

As seen in Figures 3, 4,. 5, and 6, the. two upwardly extending armportions 11 and 12 are-not alike. One ar-m. portionlZ is cut away onthe-inner side to form a channel 20, which, when the opposed arms 9 areclosed, supports a longitudinal rack 21 having vertical teeth 22thereon. The exterior support of the rack 21 comprisesa mountingflan'ge24 FigAre l) at the front, only, of the machinqthis flangesecured to an upright 25' from the main frame it.

The opposite arm portion 11 is provided with two upper links 26 and twolower links 27 pivotally connected atone end to thesides of the arm, asbest-.shown in Figures 4 ands. The other'ends of the links can'-Patented June 24, 1958:

The wheel plane changes can berelatively slow and relatively fast, aswell as of. both high and low amplitudes, or a combination'of such taintwo cross pins 29 and pivotally connected to the upper 26and lower27links, respectively. The cross pins 29 and 30 are fixed to bushings 31and 32 which encirclea swivel shaft 35 freely rotatable, in the bushings31 and 32. Directly above each bushing,and pinned to the swivel shaft34, is a foot 35 of a gear frame 36 containing a rotatable drive shaft37. An idler gear 39, rotatable on the swivel shaft 34, is carriedbetween the lowergear frame foot and the upper bushing 31, and thisidlcrmeshes with the rack 21 on one side and a drive shaft gear 40 with gearextension 41 attached to the drive shaft 37 on the other, side.

Thus it; is seen that the gear frame 36 is swingable as a unitwith theswivel shaft 34, and is supported to pivot in a vertical plane by reasonof the links 26 and 27. The drive shaft 37 also carries a bevel gear 42,located above the upper foot 35, and a horizontal wheel stud 44-mountinga rotatable bevel pinion 45 which meshes with the bevel gear 42.An orientation wheel 46 is fixed to turn with the bevel pinion 45, thiswheel46 extending into the bottom of the fruit restraining recess 15when the wheel support and driveunit is in its upper or working positionas shown by the solid-line links in Figure 4. The wheel 46 ispreferablysmooth on its circumference, with a slightly rounded contour. The wheelsuspension and drive unit is supported in a vertical direction asfollows.

Below the lower bushing 32, the swivel shaft 34 terminates in a flat cam47 horizontally positioned to operate in a cam track 49 as shown inFigures 2 and 9. Cam 47 has two rear surfaces 50 and 51 joined centrallyat 90, these surfaces terminating laterally in rounded corners 52.Cam'track 49 is supported from the upright 25 at the front end only ofthe machine by a rod 54, and by shoulders 55 on each opposed arm 9.

Thus it is seen that as the fruit holding receptacles are progressedalong the top horizontal span of the machine with theopposed arm 9closed, as will be described; in

full later, the cam 47 is slidably' supported by the cam track 49 withthe links 26 and 27 in their upper positions. Also, at this same time,the idler gear 39 is being rotated by the stationarysrack 21 to drivethe drive shaft 37 and therefore revolve the orientation wheel 46inavertical plane. t

Cam track 49 is provided with cam blocks 56 alternately positioned oneach side thereof to alternatively engage the rounded corners 52 of thecam 47 so that This , 4 pose of this link cam 62, which extends parallelto the frame plates 5, to raise the wheel suspension unit to the properposition for entering the starting end of the cam track '49. To thisend, a link extension finger is carried by one of the links 27 on eachupper arm portion 11. With no support other than the arm portion 11, thewheel suspension unit is dropped down to occupy the dotted line positionshownin Figure 4. As the fruit recesses 15 complete their rise aroundthe front gears 2, the extension fingers 65 come into sliding contactwith the lower side of the link cam 62 and are forced downwardlyrelative to the opposed arms 9, thus raising the links 26 and 27, andthe wheel mechanism, to its upper, working position in line with the camtrack 49.

Prior to reaching the arm cams 57 and 58, the cup halves 14 are alsospread apart by the spring 17. As the recesses rise, the arm earns 57and 58 are shaped to come closer together, thereby forcing the cuphalves together by" contact with upper portions 11 and 12 of opposedarms 9, to a position to hold fruit, graded for a particular machinerun, loosely, so that the fruit can be freely revolved, in the recess 15formed by the opposed cup halves 14, by the rotating wheel 46.

At the beginning of the horizontal portion of the carrier path, thefruit, such as peaches to be orientated, is loaded, preferably byutilizing the loader disclosed and claimed in my prior application citedabove. Essentially, the loader, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a starwheel 66 mounted to rotate in a vertical plane on the uprightf25 andhaving four fruit receiving recesses 67 thereon, each recess receiving afruit from a fruit chute 69.

Star wheel 66 is rotated by a ratchet (not shown) operated by a ratchetarm70 in turn operated by a vertical ratchet rod 71 driven by a crank 72on the front endrof a longitudinal shaft 74, this shaft being drivenfrom a main gear box 75 in turn energized by a main motor 76. Gear box75 also serves as the poweroutput for progressing the carrier chains 3,by means of a drive chain 77 rotating the rear gears 2a. The rotation ofstar wheel 66 is timed so that one peach is dropped into eachrestraining recess 15 formed as the cup halves 14 reach the top' of thefront gears 2 to start progression along the horizontal path of themachine.

As the cup halves rise over the front gears 2, the arm earns 57 and 58and the link cam 62 are so proportioned and curved as to permit theupper portions of Thus as the cam 47 passes along cam track 49, the

wheel 46 is positively driven at all times and isflipped from one 45position to another away from the central vertical plane of the machine,remaining in each deflected position for a time determined by the lengthof each cam block 56, and the rate of progression of the carrier. 7

Referring again to Figures 3,4, and 6, in conjunction with the remainingfigures, a pair. of arm earns 57 and 58 is utilized ,to control theposition of opposed 1 arms 9, and one arm cam is supported from eachside plate 5 as by cam brackets'59, so that there is an arm cam on eachside of the fruit restraining assembly. The arm cams are adjustablelaterally as by adjustments 60 and'6l. Arm earns 57 and 58 begin as eachset of opposed cup halves rises around front gears 2 to enter thehorizontal portion of the carrier path.

A link cam 62 (Figure 3), supported by a brace 64 fromtheleft frameplate 5, is also provided before the beginning of the horizontal carrierpath. It is the pur the opposed arms 9 to move past the sides of therack 21, and the cam 47 to move across the top of the rod 65 extendingforward from the cam track 49, and then close the upper arm portions toplace the rack 21 in the channel 20, and to center the cam 47 over rod54 so that the cam can enter the cam track 49 which begins as soon asthe upper arm portions 11 and 12 come together in fruit holdingposition.

The position of the fruit restraining assembly just as the upper, armportions are coming together is shown in" Figure 6. As mentioned before,the orientating wheel 46 is' positioned centrally below the restrainingrecess 15 and at a height such that when the fruit is first loaded, themajor portion of its weight rests on the rotating wheel 46. Thisposition is shown in Figure 3.

It is to be noted that the rack 21 and the cam track 49 are supportedfrom the frame at their forward ends only. For the remainder of theirlengths, they are supported bythe moving fruit restraining assemblies.As several assemblies are on the horizontal path of the carrier at onetime, and as all the idler gears 39 of these wheel periphery. A certainpercentage'of thefruit restraining recess 15. Y

The sides of the cam traclg. 49-thereafter are provided At a certainpoint in the horizontal block 80 (Figure 2) and: with a followingstraightening block 81 on the opposite. side of the cam track, slightlyto therear of the turning block 80. These latter two. blocks turn thecam 47- in progressively shorter arcsso;

that the wheel 46'is parallel. to the;line of progression of the carrierand centrally;positioned. below the fruit with opposite and alternatecorner contacting projections 82 whichcontact corners 52 of the cam 47to-rapidly oscillate the wheel in vertical planes over short arcs. Thisaction tends to settle the fruit down on the wheel and to rotate thefruit so that the elongation of'the seam registers correctly with theplane of the wheel, thus providing additional seam orientation. It is tobe noted that after leaving the 90 blocks 56 the rack. 21 ends so thatthe wheel 46 is no longer drivenby the rack 21 and is therefore, duringthis latter seam orientation, not rotating. t

At the output end of the machine, a circular saw 84 is mounted on-a saw-bracket' 85- erected fromframe 1, this saw being, drivenby azsaw motor86 and being positioned in the central vertical plane of the machine sothat peaches held in the recesses will be bisectedby the saw.

Just prior to reaching the saw 84, the arm earns 57 and 58are-positioned closer .to the central plane of the machine, thus causingthe fruit to be. firmly grasped by the cup halves 14. Then the cam track49 is; discontinued, thereby allowing the wheel 46 and'its drive unit toswing downwardly by gravity to a position out of the path of the saw 84,as shown in Figure 7,' andin-Figure 4 by the dotted lines. Further.progression f the fruit restraining assembly passesJ the clamped fruitthrough the saw; When the orientationprocess as described has. beensuccessful, the two halves of the fruit are substantially alike, withhalf of the indent in each fruit half, and with the saw-cut through theseam of the fruit. In this manner'a high percentage of top grade halvesis assured. Y I

After the'fruit has been halved, it can be discharged for later removalof the pit halves, or the fruit halves may be separated and taken to apitting station as in the machineof the applicationcited above, but asthis pitting station is no part of the present described herein. I

As. described before, the. action of the shifting wheel,

invention it will not be obtainedthrough the' useof the cam blocks 56,causes the:

fruit to be rotated in different vertical planes, and therepath of thecar-.- rier, the cam track 49 is. provided with a camturnin g Iatthestart,ofthe horizontal-path as describedpreviously,

but thatlthe means'and construction hereindisclosedg fore to. bring thefruit indent over the wheel periphery, 4

in which position the fruit will stop rotating becauseof the majorportion of its weightnow resting on the cup halves 14. This scanning ofthe: fruit for indent can also be accomplished through the'use of animproved orientation wheel, as shown-in Figure 8. The new wheel 46a isprovided with a raised helix 90 on the periphery thereof. Asthis-wheel46 a rotates, the fruit is fed-sideways While being turned.This permits scanning of the entire fruit surface for'stem indentwithout Ithenecessity for shiftingthezrotational plane ofthe wheelthrough its axis.

Therefore, a' cam*track 49a,as' shown" in Figure 10, having no turningblocks, maybe .used with this modified wheel 46a. During the" first partof'the fruit carrier progression along the machine, the cam 47a, havinga downwardly extending ridge 91, aligned with the plane of the wheel46a, is made to travel straight by a groove 92 cut in the top of the camtrack 49a along the center line thereof, in which the ridge 91 isguided. At the very beginning of the cam track 49a, the groove 92 widensto form a V-shaped centering trough 94 so that unit is in -a rotatedattitude, after links-26 and-27; When thearmcams Z5712il'ld-58-C0l116closer together being raised by the and reach their normal parallelposition, the :can'rridge 91: has just entered: the narrowlportion ofthe groove 92,-.so that the-wheelsuspension unit will not tend'to;twist' and bind: whenthe=rack'21and idler gear 39 arerneshed'fin.driving position: As also shown in Figure10,'the.;cam-track.49a-stillretains the oscillatingprojections:82,,tojiggleand-settle the fruit after the stems indent hasbeen-orientated over the wheel 46a. I It will benoted that-,just: aheadof: these projections 82,. the sides of 'thegroove 92, come to an end,thereby permitting the required wheel. oscillation. The rack 21 alsoends just. before. the projections 82 are reached, 'as the: previousform.

Prom the above description it will be apparent thatthere isthusprovidedadeviceof the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptibleof modification'in its form, proportions, detailconstruction and arrangement of parts without departing from: the;principle involved or sacrificing any of. its advantages.

While'in 'ordento comply-with the 'statute, the inventi'onthasbee'ndescribed in'language more. or less specific.

as to structural features, it is to be. understood that the invention isnot limited; to'the specific features shown,

comprise-the preferredform of putting the invention'into effect, 'and'the' invention is, therefore, claimed in any of, its forms ormodifications within the'legitimate and valid; scope of. the: appendedclaims.

I;claim-:. I

1. .Meansfor orientating seamed indented fruit comprising a carrier,means for. progressing said carrier over a horizontal path, a pluralityof means each forming a fruit'restraining' recess. mounted on saidcarrier and havingfavertical slot in' the. wall. of saidrecess bisectingeachrecess in avertical plane, a movable wheel support carriedbyeachrecess'forming means, a horizontal wheel axle fixed to:saidmovable support, an orientation wheel rotatably mounted on saidax-le,:means for moving each support with relation to its respectiverecess to place said Wheelwitli the plane of rotation thereof in avertical plane at the bottom of the recess in a position to support'at'least aportion of the weight of a fruit in said shaftattached'vertically to said housing'and positioned directly belowsaid'wheel in' line with the extended diameter thre of,'a pairof'bushi-ngs rotatably surrounding said swivel shaft, each bushinghavinglaterally extending cross" pins secured thereto, a link member pivotallyconnectedito each of said cross pins and'extending sub stantiallyperpendicular to the direction of motion of saidcarrier, said links'being also pivotally connected to. said. recessforming means at one sideof said slot;

and a stationary cam positioned to contact andcontrol the position ofsaid movable support in the path of motion thereof as provided by saidlinks.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for changingthe vertical plane of rotation of said wheel is a pivot cam attached atthe lower end of said swivel shaft, and a stationary cam trackpositioned below a plurality of said recess forming means,

saidlinkmembers;

4.,Means for orientating seamed indented fruit comprising a carrier,means for progressing said carrier roversaid cam track hayingprojections Lth'ereon contacting "said pivot icamto turn said i 'swivelshaft and said housing. j

3. Apparatus 'in accordance with claim l 1 wherein said i stationary camis terminated prior to a wheel reaching said rotatable member, topermit=downwardmovement of said movable wheel support about thepivotpoints of a horizontalpath, a-plurality of means each, forming afruit restraining recess mounted on said'f carrier and having a verticalslot in the wall of saidr'ecess bisecting each recessina vertical plane,a" movable wheelsupport carried by each recess forming means, ahorizontal wheel axle fixed to said movable support, an orientationwheel relationship with saididler garand a permanent drivrotationrofsaid wheels during progressiontof saidfc'ar- V rier, means for rotatingsaid wheel on said axle con- .5. Means" for orrentatlngrseamed indentedfruit comprising a carrier, means 'forJprogressing said carrier over ahorizontal path, a plurality of means eachvforming a fruit restrainingrecess mounted on said carrier and having a vertical slot in the wall ofsaid recess bisecting' each recess in a vertical plane, a movable wheelsupport carried by each recess forming means, a horizontal wheel axlefixed to said movable support, an orientation wheel rotatably mounted onsaid axle means for moving each support with relation to its respectiverecess to place said wheel with the, plane of rotation thereof in beingpivotally mounted agvertical plane at the bottom of the recess in aposition a to support at least a portion-of the weight of a fruit insaid recess and in a position obstructing at least a portion of, saidslot, meansfor changing the vertical plane of rotation of said wheelsduringprogression of said carrier, means for rotating said wheel on saidaxle constantly during a predetermined portion of said horizontalpath,'and means for moving said wheel support to clear said slot; saidmovable wheel support comprising a housing member to which saidwheelaxleis fixed, a

swivel shaft attached vertically to said housing and positioned directlybelow said wheel in line with the extended diameter thereof, a pairofbushings rotatably surrounding said swivel shaft, :eachbushing havinglaterally extending cross pins secured thereto, a link member pivotallyconnected to' each of said cross pins and extending substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of motion of said carrier, said linksbeing .also pivotally connected to said recess forming means atone sideof said slot; a stationary cam positioned to contact and control theposition of said movable support in the path of motion thereof asprovided by said links; and said means for rotating said wheelcomprising a stationary gear rack positioned along the insideof aplurality of said recess forming means and terminating prior to a recessreaching said rotatable member, an idler gear rotatable on said swivelshaft meshing with said rack and revolved thereby during travel of saidrecesses, and wheel a 8 driving meansrotatably mounted in said housingmember, said wheel driving means having a permanent drivenrageeranansmpwrm said wheel.

L 6lfMeans fororientating'fruit comprising a plurality of pairs'off-fr'uit receptacle halves, a pair of hinged arms each arm supportinga receptacle half means for serially pro ressin 's id pairs 'overavertical path followed by a t-horizoritalfpathy means for; moving eachpair from I a'n -apar-tfi position into opposed relation to form fruitrestraining recesses at the beginning of'said'horizontal path,a wheelcooperating with the bottom of each recess arid'rotatable inverticalplanes to rotate a fruit in said recess; wheel rotating meansmounted below each of said i recesses" and 'including a gear; a gearrack positioned parallel 'to said =liorizontal path and extending belowa plurality of said 'recesses atone side thereof to mesh with said gearswhile said recesses are on a continuous portion-of said' horizontalpath, said rack being partially supported by a half bearing in one ofthe arms of each pair, and end attachment means'for one end only of saidrackJsaid end attachment means being outside -of said recesses at apoint where said halves will close around said rack; r

7.Apparatus -in means for changing the vertical plane of rotation ofsaid wheels while'being progressed along said horizontal path.8.'Appa'ratus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for changingthe vertical plane of rotation ot-each of said wheels comprises, amovable wheel support mounted in each'of said' recesses and arranged toswingin a horizontal plane about a center linewhich is colinear with thevertical diameter of said wheel, a pivot cam attached to said movablesupport, and a cam track positioned below a plurality of said recesses,said canr track having projections thereon contacting said cam to turnsaid support.

J9; Means for orientating fruit comprising a plurality of pairs of fruitreceptacle halves opposed to form a -fruit restraining recess.therebetween, a carrier, means foraprogressing said carrier, halfsupport means joining each of said halvesseparately to said carrier, amovable wheel support carried by only'one of the'half support means ofeach pair, a horizontal wheel axle fixed to said movablefsuppor't, anorientation wheel rotatably mountedfon' gsaid axle, means for movingeach support with relatiohi to its respective recess to place said wheelwith the plane of rotation thereofin a vertical plane at the ,bottomlofthe recess in a position to support at least a portion of the weight ofa fruit in said recess and in a position obstructing at least a portionof said slot, means for changing thevertical plane of rotation ofgsaidwheels, during progression of said carrier, means for rotating saidwheel on said'ax'le'constantly during a predetermined portion'ofsaidhorizontal path, and means for moving, saidjwheel support'to clearsaid slot.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said wheel support ismounted to cause said wheel to move downwardly and laterally withrespect to the line of carrier progression when operated on by saidmeans for moving said wheel support to clear said slot.

H References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,079,573- Morton Nov. 25, 1913 2,100,455 Souther Nov. 30, 1937 2,505,235 Derbenwick Apr. 25, 1950 accordance with claim- 6 including

